There is now less than a week left until the most exciting rowing competition in the Oxford calendar, Summer VIIIs, kicks off on Wednesday 29 May. For spectators, the four days of racing promise BBQs, Pimm’s, and a view to watch speedy chases and crews clashing down the banks of the River Isis. Behind this spectacle are months of preparation – through less glamorous conditions of rain, wind, and snow – that crews undergo to be at their best for race day. In this last stretch before racing, crews will try to combine everything they have learned from training into establishing a strong boat of rowers. Every member of the crew needs to work together to push for every last advantage they can get against their competition.
In the final week before Summer VIIIs, crews stick to their consistent schedule of training – usually getting onto the water in the early hours of the morning while the rest of the university is still in bed. The main focus of these sessions is to refine their strategy for the races, while also reducing the overall intensity of the training. Recovery is vital to success. Summer VIIIs involves four straight days of maximum effort sprints for roughly five minutes (if you don’t bump/get bumped), which takes a huge toll on the body. Thus, rowers will prioritise sleep, stretching, and eating plenty of food if they want to last all four days at top form. While this might seem like quite a daunting commitment to balance alongside academic work, discipline, and motivation are a major driving force behind every boat. Rowers don’t just want to row fast and with good technique; they crave the feeling of pushing their boat into the crew in front of them as hard as possible and showing everyone that all of their training paid off. Given all of this effort and sacrifice, from each boat’s point of view, being bumped is simply unacceptable.
Outside of physical preparation, the last few days before Summer VIIIs also give rise to a form of ‘mental warfare’ between crews, in an attempt to psych out their opponents and gain the support of the rest of their college. Boat Club Instagram accounts upload crew profiles, team photos, and even hype videos to show off their confidence and intimidate their competitors. The quality of these posts may not always be a sign of how well a team will perform, but they are great for team bonding and help build up the tension between different colleges. Since the standings from Summer VIIIs carry over every year, crews will form strong rivalries with familiar opponents. Bumping a crew who bumped you the previous year is a satisfying form of revenge that just doesn’t happen in many other competitions.
When the competition finally commences next Wednesday, be prepared for non-stop races, packed with the perfect blend of high-stakes action and drama. From crews bumping right off the start line to others barely holding onto their position right down to the last few metres, the relentless nature of racing will leave even those with no rowing experience completely engrossed until the last crew crosses the finish line. The energy on race days is infectious. Packed crowds line the banks, erupting in cheers when their college crew passes, while coxes in the boat shout even louder as they urge their crew to give everything they have got. Whether you are rowing yourself, supporting your friends, or just experiencing the atmosphere, Summer VIIIs is one of the most unforgettable experiences in Oxford and is the culmination of all the hard work that the rowers have put in over the preceding weeks and months.